What’s on your reading list for the new year? If you’re interested in exploring current issues related to race and equity in American culture please join NNV’s Racial Equity Book Group for our bi-monthly discussions.  Our group emerged out of a virtual course based on the New York Times’ “1619 project,” led by NNV Executive Director Stephanie Chong in the summer of 2020.  After the course ended, some of us wanted to continue our exploration of race and racism and their powerful impact on our country’s past and present.  We have been meeting every two months since then and have had lively discussions on books such as Ibram Kendi’s Stamped from the Beginning, on the history of racist ideas, and Louise Erdrich’s The Night Watchman, a novel based on her grandfather’s leadership against Congressional attempts to eliminate Native American land in the 1950’s. Through both non-fiction and fiction, we are making our way through the works of authors who have both experienced racism and thought deeply about its impact.  Our group provides a safe space for exploring overlooked histories and new perspectives.

We began meeting on Zoom.  More recently we’ve met in person as we are all vaccinated.  We’ll remain flexible depending on public health conditions moving forward.  Our next meeting is on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, and we’ll be reading. Michelle Alexander’s classic examination of mass incarceration, The New Jim Crow. We gather on the third Wednesday every other month at 3:30 pm.  If you have any questions or you’d like to join us please contact the office by email or call us at 202-935-6060.  We hope to see you on February 16, 2022.  Once signed up, you’ll receive a reminder email a few days before, and information on whether the meeting will be in person or virtual.

(The Racial Equity Book Group is for NNV members and volunteers only)